Even though the Conservatives' method of backing out of the convention was typically cowardly and arrogant -- no announcement, no explanation until pressed -- it's actually encouraging to see Canada asserting itself as a country grown-up and morally self-assured enough to act as a free agent on these kinds of matters. Should we stick around unconditionally and fund well-meaning UN initiatives even when they prove wasteful and unproductive? Or could Canada be a global leader in forging an alternative path for working with other nations on the crucial issues of war, poverty, human rights and the environment?

Given the UN's record of incompetence, corruption, over-spending and ineffectiveness, a country that took the initiative for creating a new framework for principled, voluntary international co-operation might be more than just a "rogue" nation -- it might be doing the whole world a favour.

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Best & Worst Provincial Climate Change Policies

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Here's a look at the best and worst climate change policies in Canada, as ranked by the David Sazuki Foundation. All info comes from the report "All Over The Map 2012." (CP)

"Quebec is still leading the field in many areas, including being the first province to enact a modest cap-and-trade system on industrial GHG emissions, although its commitment to expanding oil and gas exploration and road and highway building threaten progress and its standing." (Alamy)

"Ontario's pioneering Green Energy Act is already reaping environmental and economic benefits for the province and could serve as a blueprint for other jurisdictions" (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images)

"Top-ranked in 2008, B.C., although it leads the country on pricing carbon pollution, has lost momentum and stalled on implementing measures to ensure it meets its 2020 reduction target with the threat of shale gas and the potential development of a gas-powered LNG terminal that could undermine the province's leadership." (PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)

"Although concerns remain about past failures, Nova Scotia has taken important steps, including a hard cap to reduce GHG emissions from the power sector." (Tim BREAKMEIE/AFP/Getty Images)

"Although Manitoba has shown some leadership on energy efficiency, there have been too many broken promises and half (if any) measures to reduce emissions from major sources." (Flickr: Jezz's Photostream

"Progress has stalled in New Brunswick with a change of provincial government. It remains to be seen whether the new government will continue to stall, go forward or go backward." (Luke Pinneo/Getty Images)

"The government of the Northwest Territories still relies more on subsidies than regulations, but it has made a commitment to increasing renewable energy and is considering a carbon tax." (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

"Although the government of Newfoundland and Labrador has, more so than many jurisdictions, led by example in tackling its own emissions, its long-awaited updated action plans detail no concrete steps to tackle and reduce emissions from major sources." (Flickr: magnolia1000)

"The territory of Nunavut still has no GHG reduction targets and has failed to include promising measures in official strategies." (Flickr: courosa)

"Despite an admirable goal for government of Yukon operations to be carbon neutral by 2020, there are no territory-wide GHG reduction targets or plans to tackle emissions from industry." (Flickr: Andrewsaurusrex)

"Alberta's commitment to heavily polluting, damaging and unsustainable fossil fuel industries continues unabated with a recent analysis showing the province is only on track to achieve one third of its pollution-reduction target for 2020." (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

"It is difficult to imagine any jurisdiction taking the threats of climate change less seriously than Saskatchewan currently does." (Flickr: Just a Prairie Boy's photostream)